Reason i ask is that today i was driving my fathers RL, and noticed it didnt handle as well in the snow as his older 99 RL that had TCS. Then i realized that his 2002 RL came with VSA. Now why did acura do this to a big sedan? I mean i can understand on a sports sedan like the TLS, or the coupe CLS, but why the RL?

I mean it got me through the snow fine, but TCS was better. IMO

 

VSA has TCS...

TCS... a traction control system... simply keeps the wheels from spinning below 25 mph.

VSA... a stability assist program... adjusts wheel speed... throttle... brake balance to keep the car going in the right direction.


Under 25 mph its pretty much all TCS.

 

the rl had it first, then the cl-s, then the tl-s, then now MDX i guess.

 

Yeah, I thought VSA had TCS in it.

Isn't the BMW DSC the same type of thing?

 

TSC doen't control throttle , VSA controls throttle and brake

 

The TCS on the RL is actually oppisite of how TCS on the TL\CL works. The TCS is actually a butterfly on the throttle body and can reduce engine breathing\power when it detects spin. Most of the new systems don't use the throttle down low, they use the breaks to adjust wheelspin.

The TCS in the Legend\RL worked really well. You just put constant pressure on the throttle and let the motor figure out what the appropriate amount of power is w/o breaking the tires loose.

 

i think what crazy sellout was asking is why they put vsa into a car like the rl, which you would think does not require it as it is not a performance sedan (not even close with that hp and weight).

especially considering that he felt that the rl w/ tcs drove better than the one with vsa in snow.

i think the answer is acura is trying to keep the rl owners from having another complaint about cheaper cars having more stuff.

(tl already has vtec, had more hp, has more hp available now, etc. etc.)

 

VSA/TCS uses an throttle, brakes, and ignition retard in the 2001-2003 auto CLS/TLS (2003 auto CLs now come with VSA/TCS).

There is a point where the brakes will not handle the "situation" on their own. The power needs to be cut to the engine. In the CLS/TLS, without electronic throttle, there are two ways to "dump"/"kill" power: 1 -- retard the ignition timing; 2 -- activate the second throttle assembly (via cable) to "choke" the engine.

The newer cars that are equipped with electronic throttle -- AKA "fly-by-wire" -- can dump power using a single throttle.

Look on the Acura site and the RL is basically doing the same thing by using engine power and brakes to control the car (when needed).

 

Whoa, u can lose control of a RL?

 

Yes... It is really true. I promise...

You can mix up a batch of "slip 'n slide" mix:

1 part glycol
1 part ground rubber
1 part oil

OR

Take some "bad judgment" pills and hit some snow and ice...

 

Acura put VSA in the RL for the same reason that MB puts ESP in all their cars now standard (maybe not on the 240Kompressor). However, I know someone's gunna bark at me saying RWD Mb needs ESP more than FWD RL .. kudos to you.

Keyword: Perceived safety. I'm sure it actually works on slick (rainy) conditions.. but in the snow.. I've been in a car w/ ESP (Mercedes) and it ain't shit... it cannot defy physics (that is, in severe snow... I realize it'll work in many other conditions)

I've also been in deep snow testing out teh TLS .. didn't feel anything but the drops in throttle when i was losing front traction. I sort of laterally slid a few times, but didn't hear the clicking of the rear ABS trying to correct the yaw.